Boots on Sunday won't go down easily

Boots on Sunday, a gutsy winner of a Retama stakes in his last start, travels to Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La., on Sunday to take on the Cole Norman-trained pair of Unrullah Bull and That Tat in the $40,000 Folklore Handicap.

The 6 1/2-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up drew a field of six, and is being run for the first time since 1996.

Boots on Sunday, highweighted at 122 pounds, showed sheer determination in his last start Aug. 2 when he held off two stout challenges in deep stretch to win the $30,000 J.R. Straus Memorial by a neck at his home track of Retama Park.

"He has a heart of gold," trainer Danny Pish said after watching Boots on Sunday win the Straus.

Boots on Sunday, a career winner of 14 races and $415,965, will be ridden by regular rider Roman Chapa.

The pair could face a serious stretch bid from Unrullah Bull, who cuts back to one turn after finishing fourth last out in the $50,000 Ark-La-Tex Handicap over 1 1/16 miles at Louisiana Downs.

Gerard Melacon has the mount on Unrullah Bull, a Grade 3 winner around two turns. The other Norman-trained starter is the developing That Tat, who just missed in an optional claimer in his last start. The two horses are not coupled, and Anthony Lovato has the call on That Tat.

* Later on the card, Candid Glen heads a solid field of optional claimers in one-mile turf race expected to produce starters for the $50,000 Barksdale Handicap on Sept. 2.

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